Liam
Meaning of Liam
Liam is the breezy Irish short-form of William, and it carries the same sturdy meaning—“strong-willed protector”—but swaps the stately bow tie for a friendly hoodie. He slips off the tongue in one crisp beat (LEE-uhm) and, like a good Celtic fiddle tune, feels both classic and fresh. Hollywood has given the name a blockbuster shine—think Neeson’s steely resolve, Hemsworth’s easy grin, and Payne’s chart-topping croon—yet Liam still sounds like the boy next door who’ll share his crayons and stick up for a friend at recess. No wonder American parents have rocketed it to the very top of the popularity charts year after year. With roots deep in Gaelic soil and branches reaching into pop culture, Liam offers the best of both worlds: time-tested strength wrapped in modern charm, perfect for a little fellow destined to make big, kind waves.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as LEE-uhm (/liːm/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Liam
| Liam Neeson - William John Neeson is a highly acclaimed Northern Irish actor, recognized with numerous award nominations and ranked seventh on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's 50 Greatest Film Actors, who was also appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2000. |
| Liam Payne is an English singer and songwriter who rose to fame on The X Factor and as a member of One Direction. |
| Liam Hemsworth is an Australian actor known for Neighbours and The Elephant Princess, and for starring in The Last Song, The Hunger Games, and Independence Day Resurgence. |
| Born in England, former defensive midfielder Liam Bridcutt represented Scotland and is a coach at National League club Gateshead. |
| Liam O'Brien - English goalkeeper Liam O’Brien plays for Bedworth United, having started at Portsmouth and earned one England U19 cap. |
| Liam Marc Henderson is an English semi-pro striker for Ashington in the Northern Premier League Division One East. |
| Liam Rosenior is an English football manager and former player who coaches Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. |
| Liam Brian Williams is a Welsh rugby union player for Newcastle Red Bulls who debuted for Wales in 2012, represented the British and Irish Lions in 2017 and 2021, and previously played for Scarlets, Cardiff and Kubota Spears. |
| Liam Boyce is a Northern Irish forward for Derry City and the Northern Ireland national team. |
| Liam Jones is a former AFL footballer for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton. |
| Liam Foudy is a Canadian ice hockey centre for the AHL Bridgeport Islanders under contract with the New York Islanders, drafted 18th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2018. |
| Liam Ryan is a small forward for the West Coast Eagles in the AFL, renowned for his vertical leap and spectacular high marks. |
| Liam Messam is a retired New Zealand rugby union star, a versatile loose forward who played for Waikato and the Chiefs, later joined Toulon, and co-captained the Chiefs from 2012. |
| Liam Robbins is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks on a two way contract with the Wisconsin Herd after playing college basketball at Drake, Minnesota, and Vanderbilt. |
| Liam Dolan is a senior group leader at the Gregor Mendel Institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, previously Sherardian Professor of Botany at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Magdalen College from 2009 to 2021. |
